As the country's seventh-largest energy consuming state and the fourth-highest emitter of carbon dioxide, Ohio businesses and consumers have much at stake in the current national climate policy debate.

To gauge Ohioans' feelings about the state of the environment, Ohio University's Scripps Survey Research Center (SSRC) conducted a public opinion poll in late June focusing on environmental issues, including climate change.

In the survey, Ohioans indicated an active awareness of environmental sensitivities affecting the state and nation. Respondents also expressed a general optimism about environmental protection, while admitting a lack of understanding about how their own actions affect the natural environment.

The SSRC telephone survey was conducted with 933 randomly selected adults in households throughout Ohio. Participants in the sample reside in 84 of Ohio?s 87 counties and have a median age of 56.

The SSRC is housed and administered through the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and is currently under the co-direction of the College and Ohio University?s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. Other survey sponsors include the American Cancer Society, Society of Professional Journalists, National Science Foundation, nonprofit organizations, and county and local governments.